On the design of synchronously pumped mode-locked dye lasers with improved noise characteristics

An analysis of a synchronously pumped mode-locked (SPML) dye laser that is less susceptible to external noise sources is presented. Approximate, analytic formulas for the pulsewidth and peak intensity of an SPML dye laser are derived in the limit of a short pump pulse and a short coherence time. Using these expressions the sensitivity of the pulsewidth, the peak intensity, and a pulse energy on the cavity length mismatch and the pump level are explored. It is found that the detrimental effects of pump laser jitter (level and timing) can be decreased if a higher pumping level is achieved. Long-term pulse-to-pulse fluctuations in energy can be reduced by increasing the cavity losses. >